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BMW Propelled By Combustion Power.
BMW has recently demonstrated its dominance in the luxury electric car market by unveiling two highly acclaimed models: the i7, presented last year, and the newest addition, the i5, which just made its debut in Italy. What is particularly noteworthy about this manufacturer is that it has managed to offer identical exterior qualities with both EVs and combustion-powered options, ensuring its clients have an identical experience whatever the powertrain variant.
Whilst this could provide a trouble-free transition from regular to EVs for those who buy luxury cars, the phrase ‘electric luxury’ gives a conflicting impression in China. Despite BMW’s global growing sale of EVs, certain divisions in China appear to be an exemption to this movement.
“We are witnessing some fascinating developments in China,” Domagoj Dukec, BMW’s Head of Design, revealed during a roundtable at Villa D’Este. “The combustion engine 7 Series models are selling far more than the electric version in China.”
China is determined to electrify transportation, providing all sorts of incentives for electric vehicles and advocating local output of EVs for all. Subsequently, the bulk of modern electric cars are low in cost yet practical, causing well-off purchasers to perceive all EVs as unremarkable.
“Electric cars are not seen as luxurious in China,” Dukec divulged, “so luxury electric cars don’t have much of a market there.” He went on to explain that, “They don’t associate electric with luxury, so the concept of a luxury electric car doesn’t really make sense in the country.”
Searching for something out of the ordinary, Chinese automobile purchasers will investigate vehicles driven by an internal combustion engine.
“They even go to Nio and say, ‘I like Nio the brand but when will you bring a V8?'” quipped Dukec. This sentiment is echoed by many car enthusiasts, who often wonder when Nio, the popular electric vehicle manufacturer, will release a V8 model. Since its inception, Nio has been known for its electric cars, but many people have been asking when they will introduce a V8 option. Although the company has yet to announce any plans to do so, it is clear that there is a demand for a V8 model from Nio. For now, car enthusiasts will have to wait and see what the future holds for the brand.
Nio recently unveiled the all-new EC7 and ES8 flagship electric SUVs. Making it initially famous, however, was the EP9 supercar which held a formidable 1,360 hp as well as an acceleration of 0-62 mph inside just 2.7 seconds. Even though it produced exceptional performance along with a savage design, buyers who came from a higher financial background didn’t take an interest due to its electricity-powered motor.
“Electric cars are often seen as being more affordable than ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles, and this is especially true when it comes to expressing wealth – a number plate for a combustion engine can cost up to 100,000 Yuan ($14,100). As such, ICE cars are considered to be rather pricey in comparison.”
In China’s great metropolises of Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou, there is a stringent limitation when it comes to acquiring license plates for new vehicles. Bidders typically invest more than $14,000 in these auctions in an attempt to secure a plate for their car. Nevertheless, electric car buyers are exempt from this cost as they receive permit plates free-of-charge, thus encouraging citizens to switch to eco-friendly automobiles.
Dukec posits that states have the potential to jettison their Electric Vehicle regulations with as much speed as they embraced them.
“You can never predict what the governments will do next,” he declared. “It’s always a mystery, and that’s why it’s important to stay informed and be prepared for whatever comes our way. We must remember that the decisions made by those in power have the potential to affect us all, so it’s important to stay abreast of current events and be ready for whatever the future may bring.”
He believes that the Chinese government never had plans to revolutionize the entire automotive industry. Rather, their aim was to provide motorized transportation to a billion people who don’t own cars, and this can only be done through electric vehicles in accordance with current policies.
Whether or not ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) automobiles get a brief reprieve, likely when somebody figures out the best way to universalize e-fuel, it is evident that BMW will stay on benefitting from offering combustion powered high-end cars in China.
BMW is determined to keep combustion alive in all markets, as evidenced by CEO Oliver Zipse’s frequent visits to Brussels. “Our CEO spends a lot of time there trying to convince politicians that EVs make no sense in the long run,” said Dukec. The European Union has proposed banning the sale of combustion-powered cars by 2035, but with the possibility of synthetic fuels being a viable long-term solution, BMW still has a chance to argue against the complete prohibition of ICE vehicles. If they can show that these cars have a place in the future, then there may be hope for them yet.


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If you’ve been holding off on buying that paid iPhone app some other time, it might be a good idea to get it right now. Apple has announced that it will be increasing the prices of apps on the App Store in India, among other countries. According to Apple, the price hikes are due to taxes (as in the case of India) or changes in foreign exchange rates.
As such, apps on the Indian app store will get expensive due to an equalization levy of 2 percent. In other countries, such as Indonesia, a new value added tax of 10 percent has been added for developers based outside of Indonesia.
India isn’t the only country where apps are going to get more expensive, the Cupertino giant is increasing prices in the following countries:
- South Africa
Moreover, app pricing is also going to be adjusted in countries like Iceland and Albania in order to bring the price in line with other markets selling in US dollars with added taxes.
If you’re a developer, or just a curious user who wants to know more about the various pricing tiers and how much of a price hike we are going to see on apps in India, you can check out Apple’s detailed pricing chart over here.
Apple users should make the most out of the remaining window and buy the apps they have been eyeing now

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Pandemic: Reign of Cthulhu to debut at Gen Con 2016
January 29, 2016 - 2:07pm
BoardGameGeek just announced, via Twitter, that designers Matt Leacock (Pandemic) and Chuck D Yager (Rise of Cthulhu) will be launching Pandemic: Reign of Cthulhu at Gen Con 2016 and available from Z-Man Games. More details should be forthcoming soon. Can you imagine, viruses replaced by Elder God corruption?? Sounds like this will be one of the big hits this year at Gen Con!


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PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Research is suggesting that chocolate chip cookies may actually be addicting after all.
It’s nice to know it’s not all in your head, but researchers blame the ingredients.
They say sugar can induce cravings and trigger some of the same addictive responses as cocaine.
They also say chocolate contains small amounts of a compound that triggers the same parts of your brain as the addictive ingredient in Marijuana, THC


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Industrial Pesquera Santa Priscila and Omarsa, two Ecuadorian companies that export shrimp, were temporarily suspended from exporting to China. There is a rumor that other local companies in the same situation, but there are no official details.
The Undercurrent News website reported on the two entities.
In the case of Santa Priscila, the Chinese authorities said they had detected the white spot virus (WSSV) in shrimp, while in the case of Omarsa, the authorities detected yellow head disease (YHD). In the world all producing countries have these diseases, so the decision of China seems suspicious to Ecuadorian businessmen.
It was known that Santa Priscila has been restricted from exporting one of its plants to that market and Omarsa in all of them.
“It is an issue that affects all producing countries in case the error of concepts by the authorities is not corrected. We believe that in China they are already clarifying the conceptual doubts and for sure the issue will be resolved shortly, ”said an executive.
From January to July of last year China bought 18% of Ecuador’s offer and 2019 48%; Vietmam dropped from 42% to 16%, which indicates that the Ecuadorian shrimp that was smuggled from Vietnamese territory, now arrives directly to the Chinese market.
This situation has raised suspicions among Ecuadorian businessmen since a business of such volume can affect powerful groups in both countries. The Ecuadorian shrimp business accounted for 990 million dollars in 2019 – January and July – in imports from China, almost 660 million more than last year. In contrast, Vietnam stopped importing the equivalent of $ 434 million.


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To improve voice commands virtual assistant Alexa's capabilities, Amazon is holding an annual competition called “Alexa Prize” to invite college students to create a social chatbot on Alexa.
The goal of the competition is to create a chatbot that can talk about pop culture, news and events with users. For example, you can say “Alexa, let’s talk about…” to start your conversation, and topics can go from gossiping, baseball to daily headlines or fasion trends.
According to Amazon, the winning team will receive $500,000 prize. And with an additional $1 million prize if the students can successfully create the bot which can speak with humans “coherently and engagingly” for 20 minutes. Up to ten teams will get Amazon's sponsorships for a $100,000 stipend, Alexa-enabled devices, free AWS cloud services and support from the Alexa team.
The motivation for Amazon to hold this event, is to advance its conversational AI ability by outsourcing to the university talents. For Amazon, the capability of the conversational AI includes knowledge acquisition, natural language understanding, natural language generation, context modeling, commonsense reasoning, and dialog planning.
“A socialbot that can converse coherently for 20 minutes is unprecedented and at least five times more advanced than state-of-the-art conversational AI. This challenge and the immediate feedback students will receive on their best ideas from millions of engaged Alexa customers with make what we previously thought impossible, possible,” said vice president and head scientist of Amazon Alexa, Rohit Prasad, at the press release.
Alongside with Amazon's announcement, media outlet the Washington Post also introduced its collaboration with the event.
Competition participating students can get full access to the Washington Post's full digital content to build up the bot's knowledge base. Also, the media outlet also said to bring more contents to Alexa-enabled devices, including listen to the top stories, adding Cape Up and Presidential latest podcasts, and playing quizzes of the news of the week with an app curated by its editorial staffs.
Students will be able to build the bots using the developer tool, Alexa Skill Kit (ASK). The winner will be announced at Amazon's AWS re:invent event in November, 2017.
Last year, Amazon opened up Alexa to third-party developers to gather more applications on the platform. Currently, the virtual assistant has more than 3,000 skills and more is added soon.


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Independent media outlets in Kazakhstan are facing an increasingly existential threat as advertising budgets are being swiped by Western internet giants and bloggers.
In July, Almaty-based monthly business magazine Business Life, which had been going since 2007, closed its doors. The publication announced on its website that production was to be "temporarily suspended.”
Business Life commercial director Nelya Ospanova later told Eurasianet that the magazine was enduring considerable financial hardship because of a dearth of advertising revenue, and the coronavirus pandemic has only made the situation worse.
In the past few years, advertisers in Kazakhstan, as in most other parts of the world, have embraced more direct ways to reach consumers. That has meant turning to the likes of Google and Facebook. As far as crafting the message goes, many companies are partnering with popular bloggers and internet celebrities with armies of followers on social media.
The numbers tell a bleak tale.
According to the research agency TNS Central Asia, the volume of advertising in print publications in the first half of this year was down 42 percent compared to the same period in 2019. Radio and TV have not had a much better time, seeing 40 percent and 14 percent drops, respectively. TNS Central Asia did this calculation by counting in raw terms how many individual advertisements each format featured.
Tatiana Gruzdo, a researcher at TNS Central Asia, told Eurasianet that the sharpness of the drop was a specifically pandemic-related phenomenon.
The rot had set in, however, before coronavirus was around, as a comparison of the same period from an earlier year demonstrates. There was a 32 percent decline in the volume of advertising in print in the first half of 2019 year-on-year. Radio and TV saw 17 percent and 7 percent drops, respectively.
The Information and Public Development Ministry forecasts that by the end of 2020, overall advertising revenue may have fallen by 60 percent. The government tried to help out by exempting media from taxes and social security contributions until October 1.
Influencers as advertisers
Toyota Motor Kazakhstan is one company that has turned increasingly to digital influencers. New models are advertised through competitions open to subscribers to the company’s social media pages. It is the Instagram stars, YouTube personalities and assorted company who spread the word.
Bolot Sultankulov, marketing director at Toyota Motor Kazakhstan, said that is the logical step when more people are consuming the content of influencers than reading news sites.
What social media personalities bring to the party is something memorable, especially when they are involved in marketing events with the public, says Sultankulov.
“Even after a few years, people happily remember how great it was,” said Sultankulov. “But do they remember advertising in the press or TV spots? I don't think so.”
Happy customers may be facing a reckoning, though, as bloggers and influencers begin to sense their monetary importance in this advertising production chain.
Nurlan Batyrov, who came to prominence as a content-producer on Vine, a short-form video platform presaging the now-omnipresent Tik-Tok, spoke at a recent media festival about his first experiences earning money in 2015.
“We didn’t even know you could make money on Vine. We would make a Vine and some woman would pay us 100,000 tenge (around $500 at the time). Our reaction was: ‘What?! You can really do this?’” said Batyrov, who now runs an Instagram account with 1.2 million followers.
According to Forbes magazine, Batyrov made more than $100,000 through his social media activities in 2018.
These days, popular bloggers in Kazakhstan are demanding up to $1,000 in return for a 15-second Instagram Story containing advertising content. An actual post, which stays up for longer, can cost twice as much.
By way of comparison, an advertorial in Kursiv business newspaper, which has a tie-up with the Wall Street Journal, can cost as little as $500 with 10 photos.
Ospanova of the now-defunct Business Life noted there is a distinction to be made between platforms, however. Social media influencers and bloggers can attract large numbers of eyeballs, but legacy media conveys greater prestige, she argued.
That, at least, is the assumption underlying the strategy pursued by the news website Vlast.kz. That publication has tried to enhance its image as an aggressive and credible source of information by not shying away from reporting on stories ignored by meeker, government-aligned media. The government’s often-maladroit reaction to the coronavirus crisis or political protests is a case in point. Vlast.kz has led the charge by doing much punchy and skeptical reporting.
In 2016, Vlast.kz introduced a paywall subscription and charged about $70 per year. It did not help.
According to Vyacheslav Abramov, general director of the publication, most readers did not understand why they were expected to pay for information that was openly available on other sites. Advertisers were in turn discomfited by the fact that part of the website’s audience was cut off from their sales pitches by the paywall.
Two years later, the website ditched its subscription model and started looking at other revenue streams.
“We are implementing special partner projects, coming up with different content formats, even games, and conducting offline events with paid participation. This is a palpable share of our income,” Abramov told Eurasianet.
The editors have recently introduced a donations system, similar to one implemented by the British newspaper The Guardian.
“Without this, it will be more and more difficult for us to survive, since Google and Facebook are taking away our bread, and the media advertising market is shifting to trendsetters in social networks,” Abramov said.
The “state order”
There is another option for struggling media, but one that those wishing to operate independently are eager to eschew – a notorious program popularly known as the state order. This initiative, started in 2010, provides government subsidies to outlets that carry placed materials, often of a distinctly propagandistic hue.
Media freedom advocates have lambasted the state order for its lack of transparency and the sparse information about the criteria for selecting which media are eligible to receive funds.
In its own investigation into the program, news website The Village found that the government had allocated 49 billion tenge (about $130 million) for the state order in 2019, but that this money was doled out without any form of open tender, as is customary for government contracts.
The government insists this financial support is helping develop the media industry by shielding it from the pressures of the market and the allure of foreign content. Independent journalists take a different view.
“The state information order system is an evil. Media have become weaker than they would have done because for many years they have been junkies dependent on the state order. This weakens competition, because recipients of budget funds do not need to fight for their money,” Abramov said.
Almaz Kumenov is an Almaty-based journalist.


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US-based bike sharing company LimeBike has raised a US$70 million B+ round, the company announced today. The funds will suppport the company’s expansion beyond its core bike rental business, to include electric bikes and scooters, differentiating it from Chinese bike sharing giants such as Mobike and ofo.
China’s largest co-working office space operator Ucommune, previously known as UrWork, has raised an additional RMB110 million (US$17.4 million) from existing investor Qianhai Wutong Mergers and Acquisition Funds, an M&A fund backed by regional equity exchange Qianhai Equity Exchange.
Sequoia China has led a US$40 million series C round in Mountain View-based artificial intelligence-powered fraud detection solution provider DataVisor, according to an announcement.
SB China Capital (SBCVC)and Youku Tudou are among investors who have likely lost tens of millions of U.S. dollars as popular Chinese youth video sharing platform AcFun shut down operations yesterday.
Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. has announced that three of its technology subsidiaries, Ping An Healthcare and Technology Company Limited, the operator of Ping An Good Doctor, Ping An Medical and Healthcare Management Co., Ltd. and OneConnect Financial Technology Co., Ltd., have recently completed private placement financing worth US$2.2 billion in total.
Venture capital firm IDG Capital has invested RMB1 billion (US$159 million) in Hangzhou-based new energy vehicle firm SKIO Matrix Co., Ltd., according to the company’s official WeChat account.
Ant Financial, the financial services arm of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., has invested US$200 million in Indian food delivery firm Zomato Media Private Ltd.
Ping An Healthcare And Technology Co., Ltd., which operates the popular healthcare and medical mobile app Ping An Good Doctor, has been cleared for a US$5 billion initial public offering in Hong Kong.
Chinese agribusiness company New Hope Group has led a US$92 million series B round in Meiliche Financial, a secondhand car financial services platform, with participation from personal finance management firm Wacai, the company announced.
Financial services firm Orix Corp has led a RMB250 million (US$39 million) series A round in Innostic, a Chinese medical consumable supply chain management platform.
Ping An Global Voyager Fund has led a US$25 million round in Tyto Care, a telehealth company with offices in New York and Israel that conducts comprehensive examinations and telehealth visits, the company announced today.
Chinese electric vehicle maker Xiaopeng Motors has raised RMB2.2 billion (US$348 million) in a series B round led by Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., IDG Capital and Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd., also known as Foxconn.
Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi Inc. has led a RMB200 million (US$31 million) series B2 round in Hsuanzhang, an online financial and tax services provider to small and medium enterprises.
China’s Alibaba Innovation Ventures, the corporate venture capital investment arm of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., has joined a US$30 million round of financing in Israeli safe driving software developer Nexar.
Ping An Ventures, the direct investment arm of Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd., has led a US$100 million series A round in Philadelphia-based biotherapeutics company Tmunity Therapeutics.
Chinese state-backed car maker Beijing Automotive Group’s (BAIC Group) will list its electric vehicle business unit, BAIC BJEV on the Shanghai Stock Exchange at a valuation of RMB28.8 billion (US$4.5 billion).
Sequoia Capital China and SoftBank Group have invested US$50 million in augmented reality camera app developer Snow China, according to a Snow Corporation announcement.
Chris Lai, ex-venture partner at Sinovation Ventures, has moved to Shunwei Capital, a venture capital firm founded by Xiaomi’s founder Lei Jun.
Singapore’s Temasek Holdings has led a new funding round in Rokid, a Chinese robotics start-up. Investors including Credit Suisse Group, CDIB Capital International, and existing investor IDG Capital also participated in the round, Rokid announced on its Wechat official account. The company did not disclose the amount it raised, but Chinese media reports put the number at US$100 million. Rokid did not immediately respond to China Money Network’s inquiry to confirm the figure. It is also unclear how Rokid is …
Alibaba Taiwan Entrepreneurs Fund, a non-profit initiative of Alibaba Group Holdings Ltd., has led a RMB100 million (US$15 million) series B round in Space Cycle, a Taiwanese fitness brand.
Caocao Zhuanche, an electric vehicle sharing company backed by Chinese automaker Geely, has completed a RMB1 billion (US$156 million) series A round from various investors, at a valuation of over RMB10 billion (US$1.6 billion), according to its official Weibo account.
Chinese apartment rental service provider Ziroom has raised a RMB4 billion (US$622 million) series A round led by Warburg Pincus, Tencent and Sequoia Capital China, according to its WeChat official account.
Chinese private equity firm Fosun Capital has led a US$80 million series B round in Bingobox, a start-up developing fully-automated convenience stores.
When it comes to raising tens of millions of dollars in venture capital, it helps to be a veteran of Baidu’s artificial intelligence units. Over the prior 12 months, former employees of the Chinese tech giant have raised close to US$300 million in VC funding rounds, according to a review of deals by China Money Network.
Autonomous driving firm Pony.ai has raised a US$112 million series A round co-led by Morningside Venture Capital and Legend Capital, according to a company announcement.
Chinese franchise smart gym operator Liking Fit has completed series B and C rounds worth RMB350 million (US$54 million), according to its investor Lightspeed China Partners’s official WeChat account.
Chinese tech giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. is reported to have bought a US$3 billion stake in bike sharing firm ofo from GSR Ventures.
Shenzhen-based fresh fruit chain retailer Pagoda has completed a RMB1.5 billion (US$230 million) series B round as investors continue to support China’s fresh produce e-commerce industry.
Kr Space, a Chinese co-working space spinoff from technology, media and entrepreneurial services company 36Kr, has completed a new financing round of RMB600 million (US$92 million).
Chinese tech giant Baidu Inc. has teamed up with Singapore technology conglomerate Asia Mobility Industries (AMI) to establish a US$200 million joint venture fund to promote Baidu’s open-source autonomous driving platform Apollo.
Sequoia Capital China has participated in a US$40 million round in Sydney-based graphic design start-up Canva. The deal values the firm at roughly US$1 billion, making Canva Australia’s first "unicorn," a term used for private companies valued at US$1 billion or more.


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All over the place you simply click these days, it appears as if somebody online is discussing cannabidiol—also called CBD, a substance ingredient based on the cannabis vegetation. Internet vendors market the remove (often known as hemp oil) as a remedy for various conditions, famous people endorse its recovery capabilities, and also the component is sprouting up in food supplements and beauty merchandise, at the same time. There’s a new FDA-accredited medication derived from CBD. Even though cannabis can be used to make weed, CBD is non-psychoactive—meaning it doesn’t allow you to get high the way in which using tobacco or consuming cannabis-related products containing THC (the plant’s psychoactive substance) can. Continue to, there’s a good deal medical doctors don’t find out about CBD and its effects on your body, along with a whole lot buyers ought to comprehend before trying it. To obtain a better thought, Wellness investigated the most up-to-date scientific research and jogged among the most frequent CBD-connected health statements by specialists inside the field. Here is what researchers look at the way these products are advertised, https://www.producthunt.com/@bennett_cranston and what potential consumers need to take into account. To stop smoking There is been some viral buzz about CBD oil getting useful to people looking to stop cigarettes, and something little, brief-expression examine posted in 2013 within the journal Addictive Behaviours can handle this concept. A team of 24 smokers acquired inhalers with either CBD or possibly a placebo substance and were actually motivated to use all those inhalers for any full week whenever they felt the desire to smoke cigarettes. Those that have the placebo inhaler failed to minimize their tobacco cigarette consumption at all in that full week, but individuals with the CBD inhaler lowered theirs by about 40Per cent. The final results “suggest CBD as a probable remedy for nicotine dependence,” the investigation authors wrote—but they also accept that the findings are preliminary. Ryan Vandrey, PhD, a cannabis researcher and associate professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins School (who was not working in the 2013 review), confirms that greater, much longer-term reports are needed to determine if CBD could possibly be helpful for people who smoke looking to give up smoking. For relief of pain Daniel Clauw, MD, professor of anesthesiology at the University or college of Michigan, thinks that CBD could have real rewards for anyone managing constant pain. He cites a newly released specialized medical trial run from pharmaceutic company (where Doctor. Clauw has consulted) that learned that a CBD-derived topical cream medication presented relief of pain to individuals affected by knee osteoarthritis. Zynerba has stopped being going after a model of that particular drug for osteoarthritis, says Doctor. Clauw, there are now no standard tips for what dose or formula of CBD (in both mouth or topical ointment type) might are best for relief of pain. But he does want discomfort sufferers to understand that CBD products may be worth a try—and which they may give relief, even minus the high that items with THC produce. “I don’t believe we have now that a great many good medications for discomfort, therefore we realize that CBD has fewer side effects than opioids or perhaps nonsteroidal anti-inflamation related drugs, which could lead to blood loss and cardiovascular difficulties,” he says. “If I have an elderly patient with joint disease and a little bit of CBD can make their knee joints feel much better, I’d choose they consider that than some other prescription drugs.” In skincare items CBD generally seems to have anti-inflamation attributes, claims Doctor. Clauw, that is one explanation the sweetness market has championed it a brand new anti-ageing component in lots of skincare products and spa treatment options. Francesca Fusco, MD, a dermatologist located in The Big Apple, fairly recently advised Wellness that CBD gas can be a unique way to obtain fatty acids along with other epidermis-healthier nutrition, and that it could enhance hydration and minimize moisture reduction. A couple of studies have also suggested that CBD essential oil may slow down the growth of acne, even though this hypothesis has only been examined in research laboratory cellular cultures—not in real humans. Like a treatment for autism Parents of autistic youngsters may look to CBD as being a possible remedy, but they should know that study in this area is absolutely just start, claims Vandrey. CBD has been shown to connect with the body’s endocannabinoid method, a group inside the head that seems to be involved in interpersonal behavior, circadian rhythm, and prize processing—all of that may be atypical in those with autism. For this reason, scientists are interested in a report that’s currently underway with the University of California San Diego about CBD’s potential as an autism therapy. But besides the fact that no human trial offers happen to be performed on CBD for autism, there’s another reason for prospective individuals (and parents) to weigh up their possibilities carefully. The market remains unregulated—meaning that, in many states, there are actually no laws and regulations or inspections to make certain that a product’s components complement what’s listed on the brand. Study performed by Vandrey and his co-workers has even proven that some CBD products have important quantities of THC—which could easily get a child higher and result in other distressing negative effects. This is an region that exists in the greyish area of legality,” Vandrey affirms. “And because of that, anybody contemplating employing cannabidiol, of the variety, must continue with extreme caution.
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Funding of $60 million has been secured by travel flash sale website Secret Escapes to help fuel expansion into the US and Asia.
Google Ventures, the technology giant’s seed capital arm, and Octopus Investments have provided investment into the company.
Index Ventures and Atlas Ventures, which contributed to Secret Escapes’ £8 million funding round in 2012, also participated.
Co-founder and chief executive Alex Saint said: “The cash injection of $60 million will enable Secret Escapes to continue making great strides to replicate the success of our UK business, ultimately helping to bring us closer to our ambition of becoming the number one destination for consumers looking to book their holidays.
“We forecast to be a global multi-billion turnover business by the end of the decade.”
Secret Escapes’ revenues grew at an average annual rate of 260% between 2011 and 2014, and the company has seen its membership increase from four million at the start of last year to 19 million.
Membership is free and requires the user to sign up online using their email address in order to access discounts of up to 70% on unsold hotel rooms.
The brand, which was founded in the UK in 2010, now operates in 13 countries following its expansion into Holland, Italy, Belgium and Spain in the first half of this year.
Alliott Cole, of Octopus Investments, said: “It was Secret Escapes’ strong commercial opportunity, the size of the potential global market, and the strengths of the founding team which initially attracted us to support the brand during the early stages of the business’ development.”


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A repeal of the Bush administration's tariffs on foreign steel could help gird California's economy.
The 20-month-old tariffs have been budget busters for manufacturers in the state. If the World Trade Organization's ruling against the duties Monday paves the way for their repeal, supplies would likely be boosted and prices reduced.
The tariffs "are limiting who I can buy from, and it's costing me dearly," said Vicente Wright, president and chief executive of California Steel Industries Inc., a Fontana-based steel mill that is paying 75% more for a ton of slab steel than it was a couple of years ago. "This isn't a winning position for anyone."
Charlie Kuffner, senior vice president of Swinerton Build ers, a San Francisco-based commercial construction firm, said a tariff on a raw material "drives up the costs for everybody, including taxpayers -- we have to pass it on."
It was far from clear Monday whether the Bush administration would heed the WTO's call to end the duties, even in the face of warnings that failure to do so could escalate the tariff tiff into a full-blown trade war.
That could hit California particularly hard. The European Union is threatening to impose retaliatory sanctions on a range of products, including key California agricultural goods such as rice, fruits and nuts.
The European sanctions would come just as the state's crucial export sector is beginning to show signs of life after a prolonged slump.
"This is the last thing that California needs right now," said Jack Kyser, chief economist with the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. "Washington gets involved in these things and we are sort of like innocent bystanders here on the Left Coast, dodging bullets left and right."
Many California businesses said they took hits when the Bush administration slapped the tariffs on imported steel last year in a bid to protect U.S. steel producers.
Bill Bloomer, president of National Metal Stampings Inc. in Lancaster, said the tariffs initially resulted in shortages that drove up prices for some types of steel products he uses by as much as 80%. He said the worst of those shocks were over; prices have eased and availability is better for most types of steel he needs.
Still, he expressed frustration that the U.S. government has shown a willingness to protect a handful of large steel producers at the expense of small manufacturers, who he complained have been left to battle the forces of globalization largely on their own. California has shed more than 300,0000 manufacturing jobs since late 2000.
"The U.S. steel industry is bloated and inefficient," said Bloomer, whose company employs 75 workers and makes parts for the automotive, medical and aerospace industries.
"To try to fix one industry that was grossly mismanaged at the expense of thousands of small end users who have had to be efficient just to survive doesn't seem fair to me."
California Steel every year imports 2 million tons of steel slabs, which are made into coils and sheets of finished metal for industrial users. Wright said his company had managed to get around paying duties on foreign steel by carefully avoiding purchases from countries with tight quotas that would trigger the penalties. But even though Wright has ducked the costly duties, he said the tariffs have driven up the cost of his raw material by limiting where he could purchase steel.
Wright said the tariffs weren't the only factor behind the rising price of steel. He said growing demand, particularly from China, had driven up prices in recent months.
The price of U.S.-made steel has become a potential problem for the $2.6-billion San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge project. Projected cost overruns recently motivated Caltrans to reopen the bidding process to allow prospective bidders to use cheaper foreign steel. The previous specs had required bidders to use only domestically made steel.
Although no one can say for sure how much the steel spat has cost the California economy so far, economists say the state will be hit with a double whammy if the dispute escalates into an all-out trade war. Potential targets for retaliation included citrus, avocados and other agricultural products grown in California, as well as home-grown manufactured goods such as apparel and machinery.
"The best thing for both the California and U.S. economies would be for [President] Bush to back down and drop the steel tariffs," UCLA economist Chris Thornberg said. "We need to move forward."


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How Compliance Officers Can Avoid Personal Liability – Lessons from the Uber Data Breach
Just weeks before the end of 2022, data stolen from Uber Technologies Inc. was leaked online. The data came from multiple breaches of the embattled rideshare company, including from 2014, 2016, and September 2022.
The news of this latest data leak comes two months after the conviction of Joseph Sullivan, Uber’s former Chief Security Officer (CSO). United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds and FBI San Francisco Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp announced on October 5, 2022 that Sullivan had been convicted by a federal grand jury for his attempts to cover-up the details of two separate breach incidents of Uber’s database in 2014 and 2016—breaches that affected tens of millions of Uber account holders.
The evidence at trial established that in 2014, Uber notified the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that it had suffered a data breach that resulted in the unauthorized access of approximately 50,000 consumers’ personal information, including names and driver’s license numbers. As a result, the FTC’s Division of Privacy and Identity Protection launched an investigation into Uber’s data security program and practices.
Subsequently, Sullivan was hired as Uber’s CSO in April of 2015 and the evidence at trial established that he played a central role in responding to the FTC’s Civil Investigative Demand—received by Uber in May of 2015—to produce information regarding any other instances of unauthorized access to consumers’ personal information and the company’s security operations.
Sullivan supervised and participated in Uber’s response to this demand and in November of 2016 he testified under oath before the FTC regarding Uber’s data security program and practices—including the specific steps that he claimed Uber had taken to secure consumer data. Then, ten days later, Sullivan was informed that Uber had been hacked again when he received an email from the hackers themselves.
The hackers informed Sullivan that they had stolen significant user data and demanded a large ransom from Uber in exchange for deletion of the data. It was determined by Uber employees that these hackers had stolen personal data on approximately 57 million Uber users and the driver’s license numbers of 600,000 users. Sullivan also received knowledge that these same hackers were breaching the information systems of other corporations and demanding ransoms.
In response to learning of the hack’s details, Sullivan—instead of reporting this breach to the FTC—executed a “scheme” to prevent the FTC from discovering the incident. The evidence established that Sullivan told a lower-level employee that Uber “can’t let this get out,” instructed the employees to ensure information relating to the breach is “tightly controlled,” and that those outside of the security group were to be told that “this investigation does not exist.”
Further, in December of 2016, Sullivan paid the hackers $100,000 in bitcoin in exchange for receipt of a signed non-disclosure agreement that required the hackers to promise not to reveal the hack and (falsely) stated that the hackers did not take or store any data during the breach. At the time, the hackers refused to disclose their names, but Uber was able to identify them in January of 2017. Uber then required the hackers to execute new copies of the non-disclosure agreements.
During this process, the evidence at trial established that Sullivan continued to work with Uber’s general counsel regarding the remediation of the 2014 breach and failed to notify them of the 2016 incident at any point, even after the FTC and Uber agreed to enter into a preliminary settlement agreement in the summer of 2016.
When Uber came under new management in late 2017, Uber’s new CEO began investigating the 2016 data breach. In response to the new CEO’s inquiries, Sullivan stated that the hackers had only been paid after they were identified, and deleted parts of a draft summary prepared by a lower-level Uber employee stating that Uber users’ personal information had been breached. Sullivan also lied to Uber’s outside counsel tasked with investigating the incident.
In November of 2017, Uber’s new CEO discovered the true specifics of the 2016 incident and disclosed the incident to the public and to the FTC. When these hackers were prosecuted and charged on October 30, 2019 for these and other related actions, their guilty pleas evidenced that Sullivan assisted in concealing their hacks, which allowed them to commit a subsequent data breach on another corporate entity.
Sullivan was charged with obstructing justice and committing a misprision of felony—meaning that he had knowledge of a federal felony that had been committed and acted to conceal this felony. Sullivan will face a maximum of five and three years in prison for each respective charge.
The takeaway from Sullivan’s prosecution is simple: “don’t obstruct a government investigation through hush payments and cover-up actions, because that will not be tolerated,” said Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General Marshall Miller on December 6, 2022, at an American Bankers Association conference. Miller clarified in his remarks that Sullivan’s prosecution “stemmed from an extreme set of actions that represent an acute outlier from regular compliance practice,” and that compliance professionals won’t be held personally liable for corporate mistakes, so long as they follow the law to the letter:
“The most important message here is the simplest one, and let me repeat it for emphasis: the department is placing a new and enhanced premium on voluntary self-disclosure,” and that ““when companies do, they can expect to fare better in a clear and predictable way.”
That’s why Uber received a non-prosecution agreement following their discovery and disclosure of the wrongdoing, while Sullivan — who refused to disclose and acted to prevent disclosure — received a prison sentence.
According to Miller, the sections of the Department of Justice (DOJ) that prosecute corporate crimes “are in the process of preparing or updating voluntary self-disclosure policies that will be clear, public, and feature the same core tenet: Any company that self-discloses misconduct promptly will not be required to enter a guilty plea—absent aggravating factors—and will not be assessed a monitor, if it has fully cooperated, remediated and implemented and tested an effective compliance program.”
* * * * * * *
To read our other article discussing whether Meta’s change in Terms of Service for Facebook and Instagram users forced such users to give consent to Meta allowing processing of their personal data, click here.
To read our news alerts discussing: Massachusetts privacy bill, the FTC’s crackdown on dark patterns, the projected increase in biometric lawsuits, and predictive policing using loopholes to expand scopes of public surveillance, click here.
This week’s breach report covers breaches of the following companies: Saif Corporation, Twitter, Upper Peninsula Power Company (UPPCO), Consulate Healthcare, LastPass updates, and the Monarch of North Carolina. Click here to find out more.
Jody Westby hosts our podcast, ADCG on Privacy & Cybersecurity, bringing together leaders in the privacy and cybersecurity arenas to discuss a wide range of issues ranging from the proposed federal and state regulations to best practices and standards for compliance. Episodes can be enjoyed on many platforms including Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Don’t forget to subscribe!
Our most recently released episodes:
84 | Internet Archive Project Related to Russia’s War with Ukraine (With guest Mark Graham)
83 | Geofence Warrants and January 6: Constitutional and Privacy Issues (with guest Matthew Esworthy)
82 | A Look at the Consequences of the Uber and Twitter CISO Cases (with guest Ron Raether)
To browse our previously published articles and news alerts, please visit our website, and don’t forget to subscribe to receive free weekly Data and Cyber Governance news and Breach Reports directly to your email.


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Nintendo plans wireless GBA adapter
To launch with new GBA Pokemon titles.
Nintendo plans to launch a wireless link-up adapter for the Game Boy Advance and GBA SP next year, according to a press release from Motorola, who will be providing the wireless chipset. The adapter is expected to be small enough "for convenient mobility", and will boast interference protection and low power consumption, which is obviously crucial for the GBA, whilst enabling link-up play for up to five players.
According to Motorola, the chip contains a 32-bit RISC architecture baseband processor and RF transceiver operating on the 2.4GHz spectrum, and will use the TDMA (time division multiple access, apparently) communication protocol for speedy data exchange. Whatever all that means. We just do Mechano.
Exactly when we can expect to get our hands on it over here is anyone's guess, but Motorola claims the adapter will launch in Japan with Nintendo's next GBA Pokemon games, amusingly translated as Pokemon FireRed and Pokemon LeafGreen. Given the universal compatibility of the hardware, we can expect to see grey imports turn up sometime during the first half of 2004.


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Tech Spotlight: Smartphones a tool for medical research
SAN FRANCISCO – Your smartphone could be a valuable tool for medical research — and for treating a variety of ailments.
IBM wants to use the power of its Watson computing system — which famously won TV's "Jeopardy" a few years back — to analyze mountains of data collected from individuals who use health-related smartphone apps, fitness bands and other gadgets. A new IBM business will provide Internet computing services for health care companies and researchers to collect and analyze that data, along with information from patient treatment records and research trials.
By combining all that data, and then searching for trends and patterns, IBM believes researchers could gain new insights into treatment and prevention. The company promises the information will be "anonymized" to protect individuals' privacy and used only with their consent.
IBM is also working with other companies to use Watson's analytical prowess in new health services. Johnson & Johnson is developing "intelligent coaching" apps for patients recovering from surgery. Medtronic is creating programs to help diabetics monitor glucose and adjust their insulin treatment. Apple will let researchers use IBM's platform to analyze data from health apps on iPhones.
Apple already has software tools called HealthKit to help individuals track fitness and health data on their iPhones. Last week, Apple launched ResearchKit for scientists to create more specialized apps for medical studies. ResearchKit had been limited to five pilot groups until now. Some of those apps gather data from iPhone sensors such as the microphone, which can measure voice tremors caused by Parkinson's disease, and the accelerometer, which can measure changes in a walker's gait. Apple says 60,000 iPhone owners have already downloaded those apps and enrolled in medical studies.
Apple also announced that its annual developers conference will be held June 8-12 in San Francisco. That's when Apple typically previews the next versions of its Mac and iOS mobile systems.
Breaking phones … on purpose
Samsung's new Galaxy S6 phones proved durable in the face of drops and other pressures, according to SquareTrade, a provider of extended-protection plans for gadgets.
In SquareTrade's tests, which use robots to throw and drop various phones to ensure consistency, the S6 phones had great water resistance, even though they don't officially have those capabilities as last year's Galaxy S5 did. But the S6 phones lost points for having slippery glass backs. They slid farther than last year's plastic Galaxy S5 and the metal-back iPhone 6 when pushed, making them more prone to falling off the edge of a table.
A premium version of the S6, known as the Edge, also lost points for bending under pressure, though the regular S6 did well, withstanding 110 pounds of pressure.
Samsung says any phone will break if you try hard enough, but its phones "are capable of taking some hits." The company says the metal frame, for instance, is designed to absorb much of the impact from any drops to protect the glass. Samsung posted video showing phones still working after drops. As for bending, Samsung says SquareTrade's tests apply more pressure than would be typical in a person's back pocket.
Share Your Tips
Every week, the Register will shine a spotlight on the state's growing tech industry. Contact us at email@example.com to let us know of startups, applications or experts we should feature.


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A big shout-out to the Ford Mach-E Mustang for making it this far in the competition. Now, the tough finals will see if the Mach-E takes First place.
"The Mach-E will be competing with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 for the right to be crowned 2022 World Car of the Year. To qualify for that honor, vehicles must be produced in volumes of at least 10,000 units per year, priced below luxury car levels in their primary market, and must be on sale in at least two major markets including the U.S., China, Europe, India, Japan, Korea, and Latin America, or at least two separate continents between the dates of January 1st, 2021, and March 31st, 2022." (Source: FordAuthority.com)
The winner will be revealed at this year’s New York International Auto Show on April 13th, 2022.


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The Bombay Hemp Company offers goods fashioned out of hemp, the lesser known cousin of ganja.Nikita Puri reports.Illustration: Dominic... ...http://www.rediff.com/getahead/report/7-young-men-and-their-unusual-start-up/20171020.htm
iPhone, which accounts for just 3% of sales in India's 100 million-plus annual smartphone market, plans to partner an existing player. Apple has... ...http://www.rediff.com/money/report/can-apple-pay-repeat-its-us-success-story-in-india/20171020.htm
China today asked the US to shed its "biased views" and work with Beijing to uphold the momentum for a steady and sound relations, a day after the... ...http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/us-should-shed-bias-against-china-chinese-official-117101900362_1.html
Posted by Equitymaster After opening the day in red, share markets in India witnessed volatile trading activity throughout the day and ended the... ...http://feeds.equitymaster.com/~r/TodaysMarket/~3/8pcQH7rtHN4/tm.asp
Jayanta Roy Indian textile exporters have been facing multiple headwinds over the past few months, which have affected their pace of growth and... ...http://www.mydigitalfc.com/deep-dive/textile-exporters-face-growth-profitability-pressures-amidst-multiple-headwinds
Connected to India is an online media...
PLANET WORKS INDIA provides...
Established in the year...
E-NEWS ! Grow your vision, develop...


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Good lighting can stop you in your tracks if it comes in the form of an impressive installation; or pull a room together in such a warm and seamless way that you don’t notice it at all. Despite its importance, local designers say lighting is often the last thing on people’s lists when they’re building or renovating a space (in budget and planning) but this seems to be changing with a movement toward environmentally friendly lighting.
“The push now is for LED (light-emitting diode) lighting,” says interior designer Donna Kurtz, who owns and runs Vancouver’s Taylor Kurtz Architecture + Design Inc with architect husband Craig Taylor. “There’s a move away from fluorescent and halogen,” she says. “With LED lighting the bulb lasts an incredible length of time and is more energy efficient as it doesn’t use as much energy or throw as much heat, so then you don’t have to worry about supplementing with air conditioning systems.”
Kurtz says LED lighting has been around in the architectural world for more than a decade but it’s only now becoming mainstream; with fittings available at high-end design stores like Yaletown’s LightForm and Gastown’s Inform Interiors, as well as chains like Ikea.
“I think in the architectural profession as well as the engineers we have to consider our footprint on the globe and how we’re using our energy and be more efficient,” she says.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW MORE PHOTOS, or tap and swipe the image on your mobile device.
Taylor and Kurtz have been recognized internationally for their residential, commercial and industrial projects, receiving awards for their work both here and in Australia. One of their latest projects — the South Surrey Recreation Centre — is receiving international attention within the architectural industry and Kurtz says in buildings this size down to 500 square foot condos, the importance of offering different levels of lighting in a space is key:
“Unfortunately when you buy a condominium you get that horrible light fitting in the middle of the ceiling and that’s it,” she says. “From there people need to take it to floor lamps, table lamps, maybe replacing that fitting with something hanging like a pendant and also think about that lamp as a piece of furniture as well as a piece of art.” Along with installing dimmers, she stresses, this is the way to make a place feel cosy and warm during Vancouver’s grey winters.
Light fixtures as art work is something Vancouver lighting designer Matthew McCormick, of Matthew Mate Lighting, specializes in. Discovered by the creative director of Earls restaurant chain, McCormick now designs and produces the lighting for Earls’ restaurants in Canada and those opening in Boston, Denver, Virginia and Chicago, with the largest installation being nearly 50-feet long and weighing close to 5,700 pounds. Going bigger still, McCormick has been commissioned to design and build a light installation two stories high for a Calgary mall, where it will be displayed as a public art piece. LED lighting says McCormick is the way of the future in terms of energy and cost savings.
“We’ve done some grand chandeliers that have over 120 pendants and if you were to run 40 watt bulbs in them your hydro bill is going to go through the roof,” he says. “Whereas if you can get LED’s in there you’re going from 40 watts down to 1.2, so even within a year you’re going to see some dramatic cost savings.”
McCormick adds that this mainstreaming of LED lighting is also saving our landfills from being cluttered up with lights that die out after a few thousand hours as LED lights can run for 10 to hundreds of thousands of hours.
This movement toward environmentally friendly yet beautiful lighting solutions fits perfectly with local design company Hinterland Design, whose Scatter Gather pendant lights are made from driftwood washed up on B.C. beaches.
Hinterland’s designer Riley McFerrin hails from San Francisco, where his work is sold, along with stores in Los Angeles and Chicago. He relocated his family to the Sunshine Coast four years ago as the location fits his company’s ethos: to produce beautifully modern pieces that have a rugged sustainable feel to them and are in tune with the natural world.
The LED light Hinterland launched at New York’s International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) in May this year was well received by press like the Wall Street Journal and its popularity reflects the times says McFerrin.
“In California they’re moving to a low voltage lighting economy and I’ve got a lot of vendors who have a hard time getting rid of traditional incandescent lighting fixtures off the floor because so many designers and buyers are looking solely for low voltage fixtures.
McFerrin says the beauty of LED lighting is that it lends itself so well to modern, simple and clean design and suits elements like brass and wood that are so popular right now.


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Scotch prices drop, Indian whiskey facing heat
Date of posting: 02-11-07
Scotch whisky makers Diageo and Groupe Pernod Ricard have dropped prices of their key brands such as Johnnie Walker and Chivas Regal respectively by 10-30% ahead of the Diwali festival week making them about 30%-50% above the price of the costliest Indian whiskey.
“Demand for Scotch is very strong after the price drop. Consequently, consumers are preferring mid-level Scotch brands over premier Indian brands such as Royal Challenge and Antiquity despite the latter being cheaper by nearly half”, said the manager of liquor store in Delhi’s Connaught Place.
High duties combined with a weak Indian rupee had made scotch exorbitantly expensive in India. However a lowering of import tariffs combined with a weakening dollar is helping bring Scotch prices to within reach of Indian consumers.
“Last Diwali, an entry level Scotch such as Johnnie Walker Red Label was selling for Rs.2000. Now it is Rs. 950”. Said the liquor store manager. “On the other hand, the prices of premium Indian whiskey brands such as Royal Challenge or Antiquity have registered a marginal rise over last year owing to rising input costs”, he added.
While demand for Indian whiskey is still very high with consumers stocking up ahead of the Diwali festival, its actual sales may be lower than during the last Diwali season. "Where consumers bought five Indian whiskey bottles last year, they are now buying two of Scotch and three of Indian whiskey”, said the manager. In many parts of India, alcohol is not allowed to be sold on festival days to discourage people from drinking. However, most tipplers stock up in advance which actually leads to increased consumption on those days.
The recent Scotch price reduction is likely to help Johnnie Walker, Chivas Regal and other Scotch brands post 30-35% volume jump in the next three years, and push their import business more into the mainstream retail.
Already, increased international travel and privatization of duty free shops has led to huge growth in Scotch sales by arriving passengers.
Industry analysts believe India’s fully duty paid retail Scotch whisky sales will 10 million cases this eyar. Perhaps reading the trend, United Spirits, India’s leading Whiskey manufacturer has acquired Whyte & Mackay and plans to roll out its brands in India. While Diageo has kicked off a price reduction on its Johnnie Walker Black and Red Labels, Pernod Ricard is following suit with an almost similar pricing strategy on Chivas Regal and Ballantine’s Scotch whiskies. Pernod Ricard is seen effecting a price reduction of up to 30% even as Diageo has gone in for a drop as high as 38% in a few markets.
“We expect a significant momentum from the price reduction, especially with the festival and marriage season kicking in. We are offering incentives on bulk purchases and also providing Johnnie Walker bar tenders as an integrated service for marriage parties,” Asif Adil, MD of Diageo India, was quoted in an Indian business newspaper. Diageo is also effecting a price drop on its other reserve brands in India like Ciroc Vodka, Baileys Liqueur and Johnnie Walker Gold and Blue Labels.
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Farmers from Orange County had a lot on their minds when they spoke with Senator Charles Schumer and the co-founder of Amy's Kitchen, Andy Berliner, on Wednesday.
The Senate's minority leader led a roundtable with executives from Amy's Kitchen to discuss needs with farmers ahead of Farm Bill legislation, and to engage the community on opportunities to produce items for Amy's Kitchen. The national organic food processor is setting up shop in Goshen and set to begin production in 2021. They're looking for suppliers to meet current demand at other processing facilities as well as in the future for the Goshen plant.
But farmers say that labor shortages are causing problems for their industry, and have concerns how the plant could affect the labor pool. And, since Amy's requires organic certified food, many farmers would have to convert or expand organic products to meet demand.
"It all sounds good, but to implement that and put that into the structure of your business and put it into motion," said Andrew Gurda of Davandjer Farms, "it takes years, and it takes a lot of learning. You're learning how to grow something without conventional ways."
Amy's Kitchen says it has helped many farmers grow along with its business, and anticipates the same in the Hudson Valley. Schumer is hoping to use the information gained in this session to push assistance in the upcoming Farm Bill.


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Costco's sales at stores open at least a year rose 2 percent in November, missing Wall Street's expectations for a period that included the critical Black Friday holiday shopping weekend.
Costco’s sales at stores open at least a year rose 2 percent in November, missing Wall Street’s expectations for a period that included the critical Black Friday holiday shopping weekend.
The performance was the weakest since September 2009 when the wholesale club operator posted a 1 percent increase.
Analysts surveyed by FactSet predicted a 3.3 percent rise in the metric. Costco shares closed down $2.02, or 1.6 percent, at $120.95 Thursday.
This figure is a key gauge of a retailer’s health because it excludes results from stores recently opened or closed. The results cover the four weeks ended Dec. 1, which included Black Friday this year.
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The indicator rose 2 percent in the United States and 1 percent overseas.
Excluding lower gas prices and the stronger dollar, sales at stores open at least a year increased 4 percent in November. The figure climbed 3 percent in the U.S. and rose 6 percent internationally.
Costco Wholesale Corp. said Thursday that total revenue for November climbed 5 percent to $8.78 billion.
For the first quarter ended Nov. 24, the wholesale club operator reported a 3 percent increase in sales at stores open at least a year. The metric also rose 3 percent in the U.S. and edged up 1 percent abroad.
Stripping out lower gas prices and the stronger dollar, sales at stores open at least a year rose 5 percent in the first quarter. The metric increased 4 percent in the U.S. and rose 6 percent overseas.
Total revenue climbed 5 percent to $24.47 billion in the quarter.
Costco currently runs 648 warehouses, including 461 in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, 87 in Canada, 33 in Mexico, 25 in the U.K., 18 in Japan, 10 in Taiwan, nine in Korea and five in Australia.


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*UPDATE* Goose Island Issuing Refunds for Two 2015 BCBS Variants
After weeks of speculation on craft beer message boards and across social media, Goose Island released a letter from Brewmaster Jared Jankoski explaining that the flavors that have developed in 2015 BCBS coffee and barleywine are not consistent with Goose Island expectations. Refunds are being issued for customers that say their beer tastes off-profile.
“It has come to our attention that since bottling the 2015 Bourbon County Coffee and Bourbon County Barleywine, they have developed flavors that are not consistent with our expectation of how these beers should taste,” part of the letter from Jankoski read. “That’s not to say the beer doesn’t taste good, in fact some drinkers may enjoy it very much. However, it doesn’t meet our standards for the taste profile of these beers.”
For the first time in Bourbon County’s history, the company is offering a refund because of a discovered off-taste issue. Customers can contact Goose Island, by calling 1-800-GOOSE-ME to get a refund on the beers they’ve purchased.
It should be noted that the beer is not technically infected. The beers went out for testing last week and no known beer spoiling organisms were found. However, the beers have developed sour and other flavors that have caused the beer to not be where Goose Island wants it.
There is no telling at this point which batches of beer are off-taste. Many have said that coffee is their favorite variant of the 2015 release, while others have had quite a different experience.
“Because of the process “batches” is a hard thing to determine,” Megan Lagesse, Goose Island’s Sr. Communications Specialist said in an email to PorchDrinking. “What we do know is enough is affected, so we’re making the call on all of Coffee and BW (barleywine).”
The issue is also limited to only bottles at this time. Kegs of coffee or barleywine Bourbon County at this point are not in question.
From late Friday afternoon into the evening, phone representatives were on-call to handle the refund request. There is no proof of purchase needed but the reps were asking for the bottle codes – most likely so they can try and track the bad batches.
PorchDrinking has heard from people that have gotten refunds as small as $12 or $13 all the way up to just under $100 for their beer. So far, while beer fans are disappointed the beer might be off, the response and actions from Goose Island have seemed to make things right with their customers.
When asked last night, one rep I spoke to said they didn’t know how long the refunds would go for. I asked if I could call in a year if I wanted to age my beer and I was told I could probably still get a refund. The rep offered me a refund right then and there, even for my unopened bottle, but I declined.
Per Goose Island’s Twitter account the deadline to get a refund will be Feb. 29th, 2016.
It’s important that customers don’t take advantage of the situation. If you have a good tasting coffee or barleywine do not call in. Yes, you will be able to get a refund but that would just be wrong.
While this is certainly not the path Goose Island wanted to go down, I don’t see this affecting anyone from braving the elements next Black Friday to pick up 2016 Bourbon County Brand Stout.
You can read the full letter from Jankoski here: http://www.gooseisland.com/blog?id=post_11
Per a Goose Island representative, shirts and checks will be sent separately.
Goose Island’s reimbursement efforts are underway and some recipients have already received their refund. The first batch of checks were sent a couple weeks ago and another batch will be sent next week.
Some refund-seekers have reported that they received a package from Goose Island that includes a t-shirt, but no check. DO NOT FRET. The shirts and checks come from different locations. Goose Island has verified that everyone who calls for reimbursements before the deadline will receive a check.
Mike Zoller is the Chicago Editor for PorchDrinking.com. Follow him on Twitter: @mikezoller and Instagram: @chicagobeer.


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Coinbase Wallet Rebrand Hints Exchange Close To ERC20 Listing
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Coinbase has rebranded their wallet, compatible with ERC20 tokens, as the ‘Coinbase Wallet’; a possible sign the exchange is moving forward with full ERC20 integration.
Coinbase renamed their new wallet in a blog post yesterday; the wallet enables users to manage their ETH and ERC20 holdings. Like other wallets, it can be used to send feeless payments and participate in ICOs and airdrops.
Originally called ‘Toshi’ – a contraction of ‘Satoshi’- Coinbase developed the wallet just over a year ago. The exchange designed it as a gateway for the decentralized web as well as use for decentralized applications (dApps).
The Toshi wallet has a dApp web browser and storage feature for crypto collectibles, non-fungible items used in games or specific trades. It added support for ERC20 and ERC-721 tokens at the end of February, this year.
“We are in the early days of a new technology revolution,” Coinbase said. “One that will reshape everything we do online — from how we identify ourselves, to performing tasks, to buying and selling goods and service.”
Coinbase wallet implies ERC20s on the horizon
Coinbase is one of the most popular cryptocurrency exchanges in the world, with over 20m users worldwide; CEO Brian Armstrong said at one point in 2017, they were signing up 50,000 users every day. The Hong-Kong exchange Binance, which is the largest ‘pure’ (i.e. crypto-to-crypto) exchange, had 9m users at the end of Q2 2018.
Coinbase announced their intention to support the ERC20 technical standard at the end of March, enabling it to add ERC20 tokens to its servers. At the time, the exchange said they would wait for additional regulatory clarity before deciding on specific tokens to list.
There has been little news coming from the Coinbase camp. The exchange said in early May they were significantly increasing their transaction capacity in the coming months; by doubling its engineering team and ‘re-architecturing’ part of its codebase.
Due to its popularity and exclusivity, a coin’s price increases significantly following a Coinbase listing. Litecoin (LTC) spiked by 25% when it was listed in early May; the total value of Bitcoin Cash (BCH) increased by nearly $30bn after its December listing.
Coinbase wants to expand its asset list; it had mooted the possibility of adding cryptocurrencies Cardano (ADA), 0x (ZRX) and Stellar Lumens (XLM) last month. The exchange had previously said that the technical similarlity between Ether and Ethereum Classic meant listing ETC was far easier than adding a native token from a whole new platform.
ERC20 tokens are essentially cryptocurrencies that comply with certain requirements that enable them to function on the Ethereum platform; they are technically very similar to one another, like Ether and Ethereum Classic.
A wallet rebranding may not be enough to augur Coinbase’s plans. That said, the exchange has committed to ERC20 support, with similar codebases making such listings far easier than adding tokens from whole other platforms.
Crypto Briefing approached Coinbase for comment on whether the rebranding of an ERC20-compatible wallet to ‘Coinbase wallet’ meant the exchange is moving closer to supporting ERC20 tokens. There was no response at press-time.
The author is invested in ETH, which is mentioned in this article.


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Facebook on Monday introduced an “outlook” app in the US that pays members of social networks to participate in the survey. The new market research app will be used to improve the Facebook “family” of offerings, including Instagram, WhatsApp, Portal, Oculus and core online social networks, according to product manager Erez Navah. The app may criticize that Facebook keeps itself profitable by leveraging data shared on social networks.
“We believe that the best way to improve products is to get insights directly from the people who use them,” Naveen said in an online post.
Points can be deposited to receive payment, which will be sent to people through PayPal.
According to Nawansh, people who set up accounts in the Viewpoint app have to participate in surveys that are intended to gather insights that can be used to prevent the negative effects of social attitudes and to increase its benefits. Will be invited to participate in the programs.
Personal information such as name, age, gender, and place of residence will be collected when setting up viewpoint accounts, which are open only to people 18 years of age or older.
“We will not sell your information from this app to third parties,” Naveen said.
“We will not publicly share your Facebook Approach activity on Facebook or other accounts you have linked without your permission.”
The approach is only available to American Facebook members, but the California-based internet giant plans to expand it to more countries next year.


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What Happens to Buybuy Baby if Bed Bath & Beyond Files for Bankruptcy? | Barron’s
faces a growing risk of bankruptcy, the question of what will become of its strongest asset, Buybuy Baby, has loomed large.
The chain, which sells strollers, car seats, and other gear for infants, has seen sales weaken recently. But it consistently outperforms the company’s namesake
stores, making it a top contender for a potential acquisition.


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Three new units have been let in Olympia House, in the heart of Newport, showing sure signs of economic growth and revitalisation in the city.
The building, which previously housed the Passport Office, and Marks and Spencer had lain virtually empty for two years before being bought by Richard Hayward Properties in 2013.
Now the property developers intend to re-establish Olympia House as a focal point of the city centre by updating it as a mixed-use building.
These three units are the starting point of that project and have been taken by a pole-dancing exercise studio, a charity shop and Newport Now, the headquarters of the local BID (Business Improvement District).
The lettings follow the announcement earlier this year that sports retailer Sports Direct is to take a major unit in the building which was previously used by Marks and Spencer. The retailers have also applied for planning permission to build a gym in the building.
And joint venture partners the Tonstate Group and Richard Hayward Properties have also submitted a planning application to change the use of the upper floors of Olympia House from offices to residential and its redevelopment into 62 apartments for private rental. A decision is expected in the early autumn.
Built in the 1960s, the 90,000 sq ft Olympia House is a nine-storey building, which previously housed the Passport Office. It currently consists of 13 retail units with six floors of office accommodation above.
As one of the largest buildings in Newport, the redevelopment of Olympia House to provide residential units with retail and leisure uses at on the lower levels will support the regeneration of the city, helping to bring residents back into the centre creating improved vibrancy and a greater sense of community.
Initial preparatory work has already stared, including clearing out internal areas and removing asbestos. Work has already been able to start on a soft strip for the flats while talks are underway regarding the letting of retail units.
Olympia House is just one of a number of projects that RHP is working on in Newport city centre – all of which are supporting its regeneration, creating jobs and acting as a catalyst for further investment by others. Others include the new 60-bed Premier Inn currently being developed opposite the station.
Commenting on the lettings, Richard Hayward said: “These units are an important part of what we are doing in Newport as a whole – looking towards small and larger retailers units as well as the residential element. Having Newport Now, a catalyst for local business improvement, on board, is a tremendous sign of their confidence in Olympia House and Newport.“I am confident that this building and this city will continue to go from strength to strength.”


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AppleInsider reports today that Appleâ€™s forthcoming iPad mini, expected to be released before the end of the year, could be the first Apple tablet featuring a display that has been coated with indium tin oxide (ITO), which is an electronically conductive transparent material that works as an EMI shield, helping to keep radio interference to a minimum. According to the report, Taiwanese company Efun Technology has seen its profits double over the past few years due to its manufacturing of flexible substrates covered with ITO. The coatings are apparently very thin and very light, which makes them ideal for helping to protect devices from radio frequency interference, as well as being electromagnetic shields. In the past, Efunâ€™s business has largely come from Samsung, which has used the technology on its phones, but apparently industry sources are now saying that Apple will be using the technology in its forthcoming iPad mini.
Source: Apple's 7.85-inch iPad mini and future iPads may adopt ITO film coating


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Crime & Scams
HTC Exodus Blockchain-Centric Smartphone Is Set To Release Later This Year
HTC, a Taiwan-based electronics hardware manufacturer, announced their Exodus phone earlier this year. As per previous ...
HTC Catches Bitcoin Fever, Set to Launch Blockchain-powered Smartphones
Mobile phone giant HTC is not ready to be left out of the blockchain and cryptocurrency movement. The 21-year old ...
HTC to Launch Its Own Cryptocurrency-Focused Smartphone, Exodus
Technology With HTC entering the race, a second cryptocurrency supporting smartphone created by a major electronics ...
HTC Announces New Blockchain Powered Smartphone
Taiwanese smartphone maker HTC will introduce their first Blockchain phone to the market in October, the device will be ...


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“Miracle on Ice” Jersey Sells for Almost $660K
(NEW YORK) — The jersey hockey player Mike Eruzione wore 33 years ago in the United States’ win over the more experienced Soviet Union in the 1980 Olympics has sold for over half a million dollars.
The jersey that Eruzione wore during the “Miracle on Ice” victory at the Lake Placid Olympics that day went up for auction and sold for almost $660,000. Eruzione has said he’s not hurting financially, but he wanted to leave a little nest egg for his family and a charity in his hometown of Winthrop, Massachusetts.
The gold medal, on the other hand, won’t be sold as long as he’s alive, Eruzione said.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio


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Manitowoc Acquires INDUCS
Will leverage induction technology for Manitowoc Foodservice customers
MANITOWOC, Wis. -- The Manitowoc Co. Inc. has announced the acquisition of INDUCS AG, a leading supplier of induction technology to the global foodservice industry, based in Herisau, Switzerland. INDUCS develops, manufactures and markets an expansive line of advanced technology induction counter-top and built-in products.
INDUCS has a strong global network of distribution partners, including a longstanding relationship with Garland Commercial Range, a Manitowoc Foodservice company, which has marketed induction technology to the foodservice industry in North America for more than a decade. In recent years, Garland Commercial Range was recognized by the National Restaurant Association with two Kitchen Innovation Awards for the Induction Griddle and Induction Braising Pan.
"We are excited about the future of induction in the foodservice industry. Induction technology solves customer problems that conventional equipment cannot. Specifically, more and more customers are demanding energy efficiency, ease of cleaning, cooking speed and accuracy that induction delivers," said Jacques Seguin, vice president and general manager of The Garland Group. "Our goal is to leverage the strengths of both companies to become the global market leader for this exciting technology."
It will sell induction products under the Garland brand to all Manitowoc Foodservice global customers while INDUCS continues to serve its original equipment manufacturer (OEM) customers and distribution partners.
Manitowoc Foodservice, a division of The Manitowoc Co. Inc., designs, manufactures and supplies food and beverage equipment for the global foodservice market. The company has a portfolio of brands including Cleveland, Convotherm, Delfield, Fabristeel, Frymaster, Garland, Kolpak, Koolaire, Kysor Panel Systems, Lincoln, Manitowoc Ice, Multiplex, Merrychef, Servend and Manitowoc Beverage Systems.
Founded in 1902, The Manitowoc Co. Inc. is a multi-industry, capital goods manufacturer with more than 115 manufacturing, distribution and service facilities in 26 countries. The company is recognized globally as one of the premier innovators and providers of crawler cranes, tower cranes and mobile cranes for the heavy construction industry. In addition, Manitowoc is one of the world's leading innovators and manufacturers of commercial foodservice equipment, which includes 24 market-leading brands of hot- and cold-focused equipment.


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words // Brandon Richard
Joining the Air Jordan 5 in paying tribute to Michael Jordan’s Wilmington-based high school is the Air Jordan 1, which will arrive in an all-new ‘Laney’ colorway this weekend.
Decked out the Buccaneers’ school colors, the iconic shoe sports a royal suede base with yellow leather overlays. Giving the shoe ‘OG’ designation, it features its original high cut and ‘Nike Air’ branding on the tongue. Finishing off the look below is a white midsole and yellow rubber outsole.
These retro Jordan shoes will be released here this Saturday, November 16 for $140 at 8:00 a.m. EST / 7:00 a.m. CST. Follow @Eastbay on Twitter and @OfficialEastbay on Instagram for all release information and updates.


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Opportunities for writers
This year, the winning story will receive a $4000 cash prize and will be published on the label of a Story Wines vintage, as well as in Overland’s last print issue of 2015. Two runners-up will each receive $500 and be published at Overland online to coincide with the release of the print magazine, and on the labels of different Story Wines vintages. Read the entry guide for more information.
We’re pleased to announce that Overland is a proud sponsor of Queensland Poetry Festival’s new spoken word prize – the first of its kind in Australia!
Open to all Australian residents, the prize offers a first place of $1000, and two runner-up prizes of $250. Winning entries will be published at overland.org.au. The 2015 judges are Karina Quinn, Pascalle Burton and Kate Durbin. Visit the Queensland Poetry Festival for details.


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Tech giant Facebook leaves no opportunity to slow down its competitors, this time taking TikTok’s signature short-form Reels format to its own app, thus proving once again that its ecosystem is all any user will ever need.
Instagram, one of the popular platforms owned by the company, had been using this celebrated feature for quite some time. Now, users can create and share their IG reels on the main Facebook app as well. The trials for this extension began in March, and have been widely seen as an attempt to mar their extremely popular rival’s growth.
At present, this will only be available in the United States, but as is understood about Facebook’s ambition, this will expand globally soon. The testing had been going in major user bases like India, Mexico, and Canada for a while, where the format is generally well received.
Unsurprisingly, this format is growing onto users quickly, as attention spans fall and the new behaviors set in. Facebook is among many other companies in promoting this type of content, which was popularized first by Vine, and then TikTok.
Snapchat, for instance, spent around one million dollars a day incentivizing content creators to do the same, and Google-owned YouTube will do the same on a $100 million annual budget.
Facebook, being an undisputed leader in any social media segment, had announced a whopping billion dollar plan in this case, even adding an “additional bonus program,” which would definitely motivate creators to switch to their app, despite its decreasing popularity amongst younger demographics.


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Everything You Need to Know About the Chipotle Outbreak
Déjà vu anyone?
Is it safe to eat at Chipotle? That's the question that's been on the minds of consumers since 2015’s e. Coli outbreak. And now, after quite a few Chipotle frequenters in Virginia reported getting sick post gobbling up Mexican grub, the fast-casual chain has closed a Sterling, Virginia restaurant.
How Many People Got Sick?
Eight reports on iwaspoisoned.com, a site where diners can upload their personal horror stories, noted that about 13 customers fell ill after dining there on either Friday or Saturday.
What Are they Sick With?
Customers reported experiencing painful norovirus symptoms ranging from severe stomach discomfort, nausea, dizziness, and dehydration to vomiting and diarrhea—which even drove two victims to the hospital.
How Is Chipotle Responding To This?
"We are working with health authorities to understand what the cause may be and to resolve the situation as quickly as possible," Jim Marsden, Chipotle's executive director of food safety, told Business Insider. "The reported symptoms are consistent with norovirus. Norovirus does not come from our food supply, and it is safe to eat at Chipotle." Marsden also added that the illnesses were confined to just the single Sterling restaurant and that Chipotle plans to sanitize the location and reopen it on Tuesday. Contrary to those claims, iwaspoisoned.com users in other states like New York and Florida more recently reported similar symptoms as well.
Is It Safe to Eat At Chipotle?
So: is Chipotle safe to dine in? Since 2015, the company has gone to great lengths to sanitize its locations, and as a result, the official Eat This, Not That! recommendation gives dining there the green light. This recent discovery doesn't change our opinion—yet. We’ll keep you posted about whether or not this reported outbreak spreads beyond Virginia. And in the meantime, click here for Every Dish At Chipotle—Ranked!
How to Easily Eyeball a Perfect Portion Size
Finally avoid the thrice-weekly cheese binge.
15 Foods Banned Around the World
Find out which country made chewing gum illegal.
20 Best Foods For Better Sleep
Rethink your midnight snack.
35 Easy Ways to Pick Perfect Produce Every Time
Need-to-know info for scoring the best of the bounty
Why You Get Brain Freeze From Ice Cream
And how to get rid of it.
25 Best Sources of Omega-3s
Get this important nutrient without a supplement.
The Simple Way To Cook Pasta Faster
You're going to question everything.
Every Chain Restaurant In America—Ranked By Popularity
You won't believe where McDonald's stands!
Top 14 Food Trends of 2018
What’ll you be eating six months from now?
This Secret Aluminum Foil Feature Will Blow Your Mind
Did you know these even existed?
21 Foods With More Sodium Than Instant Ramen
There are worse heart-harming meals out there.
Should You Go to Bed Hungry to Lose Weight?
Experts reveal when you should eat your last meal.
14 Protein Bars Worse Than a Snickers
Portable protein or candy bars in disguise?
35 Sugariest Restaurant Meals on the Planet
#15: A very scary salad!
How You Messed Up Your Metabolism This Week
Did you accidentally sabotage your metabolism?
7 Superfoods Every Woman Needs
These health-boosting superstars carry some serious bragging rights.


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The article “Davis Ace Owner Asks Employees to Vote for Romney” seems to me to have been published for the sake of making Jennifer Anderson look bad. That is unfair and unjust. She has every right to let her opinions be known. I was a small business owner in Davis for almost 20 years. I spent more that my fair share of time involved in Democratic Party politics. All of my employees knew my views.
If we are going to mend the huge divide in this country, we have to start listening to each other. There are legitimate reasons for so many business people to be Republicans. Taxes are not a simple issue for a business. Among other things, they can make cash flow difficult.
Mandated taxes already can add up to 25 percent onto a payroll. Record-keeping and tax collecting for the state adds more cost. I have never met anyone who was not a business owner who had any idea how hard it is to maintain the bottom line. In today’s economy, with more and more people shopping online, new taxes are a very real threat to local small business. We have already lost several wonderful, unique stores. It is hard to stay viable. Our business owners deserve our support even if they are Republicans.
During my years running The Farmers Wife Bakery, I spent time on the board of the Chamber and the Davis Downtown Business Association. Jennifer Anderson and I disagreed on many things. But I know her to be an honest, intelligent and creative businesswoman. We are very fortunate to have her and Davis Ace in our town.


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STRATFORD, Ont. — Hendrickson officials have reported the manufacturer will be initiating significant layoffs during the first quarter of 2007 at its spring plant in Stratford, Ont.
Based in Itsaca, Ill., Hendrickson has been a supplier for the transportation industry for more than 90 years. The manufacturer supplies truck and tractor suspensions, trailer suspensions, truck and trailer lift axles, bumpers and trim components and springs to the commercial transportation industry.
“We have seen some decline in the workforce over the past year due to normal attrition in both the salaried and hourly workforce, which should reduce the overall impact of the layoffs, the company said in a statement. However, because of the predicted significant decline in the heavy-duty truck market, approximately a 35% reduction of both salaried and hourly personnel will ultimately be required.”
A number of OEM truck manufacturers and their suppliers in the heavy-duty market have announced layoffs in the coming year as a result of an anticipated industry-wide drop in demand for heavy- and medium-duty trucks during the first half of 2007.
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What’s your dream garage? If you ask me, it would probably have a roadster, a supercar, an SUV, and a helicopter. Why a helicopter? This is why.
Emmanuel Toner, a grocery store owner, was filling his truck with fuel in central New Brunswick on Monday noon, April 27, 2020. However, as he walked out of the Ultramar after getting the receipt for the fuel, he saw his Ram truck being driven away with the key fob in his pocket. It turns out, he left his truck running to pay for the fuel, CBC Canada reported.
According to Toner, he posted a photo of his truck on the Facebook page of the grocery store his family owned. He thought it’s the best way to track down the truck.
“In no time, we had lots of shares and likes and people were looking for my truck,” Toner said in an interview with CBC.
With tips and information of sightings in hand,…


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Food inflation rose to 4% during October, affected by poor harvests, rising production costs and commodity price increases.
In the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Nielsen Shop Price Index for last month, the level of food inflation for fresh and ambient produce rose by 0.9% on September, affecting the level of overall shop price inflation which increased to 1.5% in October.
Stephen Robertson, director general at the BRC, said: “Overall shop price inflation is still low, but pressure from food has edged it up. After three months of stability, food is being hit by a combination of poor harvests, rising production costs and previous commodity cost rises working through.
“In particular, the wet summer and higher feed costs are affecting vegetables and meat and poor supplies on world markets are making the ingredients for some manufactured foods more expensive.”
He added that the above costs started to drop during the last quarter of the year, which promised to help ease pressure in the run-up to Christmas, as retailers started to push promotional activity and discounts to attract more shoppers.
Mike Watkins, senior manager, retailer services, Nielsen, said: “With weakened demand, there is intense price competition across all retail channels, especially on discretionary items, and this is keeping inflation low. However, it’s difficult to predict the levels of retail sales in the run-up to Christmas and, with cost price increases now being reflected in some food price inflation, this will inevitably make shoppers more cautious.
“Even so, with retailers maintaining promotional activity, there are sure to be some excellent deals out there for the savvy shopper.”
Non-food prices remained at the same level in October following a 0.2% decline in September.


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As if honeybees weren’t handicapped enough already, it looks like America’s overuse of pesticides now taints so much pollen that honey can’t be called organic anymore. Farmers’ carpet-bomb approach to using pesticides and weedkillers has become ubiquitous, and some beekeepers in the U.S. have actually started advising consumers who seek high-quality organic honey to buy from somewhere else, like Brazil or Mexico. Reminding people that nothing about honey’s future is easy or simple, others caution it’ll probably come with a trade-off: The imported stuff, even if it’s organic, often gets heat-treated and filtered, stripping it of nutrients, so it’s kind of lose-lose, really.
An organic shortage is doubly alarming news since the U.S. only produces two-thirds of the honey it did in the early ’90s, according to the National Honey Board. Demand has increased twofold since then, Civil Eats notes — compounded by an uptick in demand for organic products, too, of course. The mystifying phenomenon of colony collapse disorder, meanwhile, has resulted in U.S. beekeepers losing about 30 to 45 percent of their hives annually.
Gene Brandi, president of the American Beekeeping Federation, tells Civil Eats that part of the problem is that something like 90 percent of bees in commercial apiaries come into contact with California almonds, which typically get treated with pesticides, meaning their honey “would be disqualified” as organic.
It turns out Hawaii isn’t half bad. Because there’s still wild forestland for bees to forage in, the islands are home to several of the very few certified-organic honey producers. (Bees in places like North Dakota now reportedly fly as far as five miles in search of flowers, a troubling radius for producers trying to ensure their honey stays organic.) But the Hawaii Beekeepers Association admits their days look numbered out there, too: “Hawaii is a testing ground for a lot of GMO crops,” says association president Anthony Maxfield.
So, the good news is honey never expires, but the bad is that it might be time to start rationing.


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Monica’s ‘So Gone’ Gets Sales Boost Thanks to the #SoGoneChallenge and Chance The Rapper
Monica is heading back to the top thanks to Chance The Rapper and the #SoGoneChallenge.
The Missy Elliott-produced track "So Gone" dropped in 2003 but it's recently gotten new legs from the #SoGoneChallenge, in which a person must rap a verse over the song's instrumental. Last week, Chance The Rapper decided to take part in the challenge with a cute rap for his fiance which wound up going viral. It gained over 200,000 retweets and over 300,000 likes on Twitter since it was posted on his page.
Since then, Apple Music and Spotify have cited an increase in streams for the track. Apple Music says that streams for "So Gone" went up by 233% while sales went up by 407%.
"It’s amazing what can happen when Chance gets involved," said an Apple rep to Forbes. As for Spotify, streams for "So Gone" doubled with a 129% increase.
Hundreds of people have jumped in on the #SoGoneChallenge in the past month. And most recently Monica herself decided to celebrate while participating in the challenge in a video with Missy Elliott.
"Monica will still snap," raps Monica in the clip. "Kick down doors until my heels crack / Now I’m making racks while they rapping on my old track."
Towards the end, she adds: "Heard there was a #SoGoneChallenge / Man, I said ‘No way’ / Song still bang like we in 20-0-3."
No lies there. Check out Chance and Monica's #SoGoneChalllenge videos below. Also peep the original track below if you feel like taking a trip down memory lane.
Listen to Monica's "So Gone"


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TechnoServe's blog highlights the lessons and successes from our work with enterprising people in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses and industries.
We join in celebrating the world’s most popular beverage – and the coffee farming families who make it possible.
Peruvian entrepreneurs from the San Martín region proudly presented their cocoa products at Latin America’s largest food festival.
We're honored to be featured as a top 5 winner in USAID's Frontiers in Development photo contest for photographer Kevin Ouma's striking image of a Maasai woman preparing to milk her cows in the pre-dawn chill.
TechnoServe and Nespresso are expanding their partnership to support coffee farming families in Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan.
TechnoServe is helping South African vegetable farmers connect to new markets and improve their livelihoods.